virescent

adjective

vi·​res·​cent və-ˈre-sᵊnt 

vī-

1

: beginning to be green : greenish

2

: developing or displaying virescence

Did you know?

Virescent first appeared in English in 1826. It derives from the present participle of "virescere," a Latin verb meaning "to become green" and a form of another verb, virēre, meaning "to be green." "Virēre" also gave us another adjective meaning green, "verdant," only the route to that adjective takes a stop at the Old French verdoier ("to be green"). "Virescent" has seen occasional general use, as when Thomas Hardy wrote, in his 1881 novel A Laodicean, of "[t]he summer . . . tipping every twig with a virescent yellow." But it is nowadays found most frequently in scientific contexts, especially those pertaining to botany.

Word History

Etymology

Latin virescent-, virescens, present participle of virescere to become green, inchoative of virēre to be green

First Known Use

1826, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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